SPRING RABBITS --- and the SPRING FLING BLOG HOP

SPRING AND RABBITS -- they've gone together like peanut butter and jelly for many centuries.

For example, rabbits were once associated with Eostra, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility --- and it's pretty easy to figure out why!

But did you know that rabbits have long been considered LUCKY?

In some parts of the UK, the first day of any month is nicknamed “Rabbit Day”. According to folklore, saying the words “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit”, “white rabbits”, or even “bunny, bunny” upon waking up on the first day of the month brings good luck. Forget to do it? Say “tibbar, tibbar” (yup, that’s “rabbit” backwards!) before falling asleep that evening.


There are endless variations on this, including saying “black rabbits” just before bed as part of the charm. A two-part ritual calls for you to say “rabbits, rabbits” as you fall asleep on the last day of the month, and “hares, hares” when you rise.

Rather than doing it monthly, some people believe that saying “rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the New Year is sufficient to bring luck all year long. If you say it on the first night of the new moon OR during your birth month, then the luck is supposed to be stronger. Some people recite an old British nursery rhyme, which goes like this:


Rabbits hot and rabbits cold,
Rabbits new and rabbits old,
Rabbits tender, rabbits tough,
Never can we have enough!

Here in North America there are many variations of the “rabbit rabbit” ritual, particularly on the East coast in states such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In recent years, the practice has been updated to include tweeting “rabbit rabbit” on the first day of every month! 

So why are rabbits thought to be lucky? One explanation has to do with their ability to jump, and it’s the reason some folks carry a rabbit’s foot – it represents leaping into the future and moving forward in life. Others carry a rabbit’s foot to ward off arthritis and rheumatism. 

In Wales it’s been said that brushing the face of a newborn child with a rabbit’s foot will keep away evil spirits and bring the child good luck for the rest of his life. Rabbits have often been associated with fertility and also abundance, and seeing a rabbit sitting still is supposed to be a good omen.
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'Tis Spring, and a booklover's heart turns to MORE BOOKS!

If this describes you, the SPRING FLING BLOG HOP has over 50 authors and bloggers participating! Each is offering their very own giveaway (WOO HOO!) but there will ALSO be an overall GRAND PRIZE (details at the end of the post, plus a Linky List of participating blogs!)  

DANI HARPER'S PRIZE:

Bunnies, Spring and Books -- I put all three together to bring you the following: a Rafflecopter giveaway
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SPRING FLING BLOG HOP GRAND PRIZE:  Your choice of a Barnes and Noble gift card OR an Amazon gift card, worth $70.00 of book-squealing fun!  To enter the grand prize giveaway you must enter the Rafflecopter below for the grand giveaway. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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LINKY LIST OF 
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
1.Bitten by Romance18.Dani Harper, Paranormal Author35.Gretchen Roberts2.Lisa Jung19.Sherri @ Urban Girl Reader36.Elise Hepner3.A.L. Kessler20.Mina Khan37.Rayna Noire4.Lusty Penguin Reviews21.Catharina Shields38.Morgan K Wyatt5.Mia Bishop22.Joleene Naylor39.Dawn Marie Hamilton Writes6.Lisa Chalmers23.Matthew Alan Thyer40.Taking Time for Mommy7.I Smell Sheep24.Krystal Shannan41.Jeanine McAdam8.Karen Cino25.Carolyn Gibbs42.Tawdra Kandle9.Liana Brooks26.Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears43.Mama Knows Books10.Booked & Loaded27.Catherine Stine44.Holley Trent11.Dianne Hartsock28.Susan Arden~ Bad Boys45.Renee Luke12.Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust (US)29.Reading Between the Wines46.Ambrielle Kirk13.Madison Sevier30.Rhi Reading47.MYTHICAL BOOKS( INT)14.Donna Augustine31.Christina Irelan48.Tista Ray15.CJ Burright32.Lacey Leigh49.Natasha Blackthorne16.Harper A. Brooks33.E. S. P.50.Between The Pages17.Just Jeannie's Books & Bling34.Sedona Venez51.Natalie- Nicole BatesIf you have any difficulty in connecting with the above bloggers and authors, please go to THIS PAGE for links:  http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/03/spring-fling-giveaway-hop-sign-up.html